Rev. Donald S Barrus

Rev. Donald S Barrus October 30, 1924 - April 15, 2016 The Rev. Donald S. Barrus, a resident at Glenmoor Retirement Center in St. Augustine, FL, died April 15, 2016 at Bailey Hospice. He lived his 91 years fully and creatively as a husband, father, Episcopal priest, and member of his community. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts to Agnes K. Barrus and Donald S. Barrus, Sr. He had four siblings, two of whom are still living—Mrs. Carolyn B. Sistare and Mr. Robert N. Barrus (KathiCollings). The funeral will be at Glenmoor’s Crichton Hall on April 25, 2016 at 10:30 am. The Rev. Michael Ellis will officiate. Don will be buried in North Laurel Grove Cemetery, Savannah, GA. Later, there will be a service in Highlands, NC, where Don’s visionto maintain a place where the family could gather, share life, and make memories was realized and continues today. Don, a first lieutenant in the 8th Air Force, was a young navigator in a B-17 who participated in 35 missions over enemy territory in WWII. He and fellow crew members underwent fighter attack, intense flack, and adverse weather;crew memberscredited him with saving their lives. He was awarded the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal for duty performed. After his military service,Don attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, earning a BS in Chemistry, and then spent three years at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, earning a Master of Divinity Degree with additional Clinical Training. He later earned a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL. While in seminary, Don met Mary Jaudon of Washington, DC; they married in 1951. Don and Mary have four children,Jean Barrus Hess (Dr. Robert), Dorothy Barrus Wilson (Dr. Samuel), William Barrus (Claire Adamson), and Christopher Barrus (deceased) (Stacia Clawson); eight grandchildren,William Hess (Eva Nyizsnyanszki), Christopher Hess, Robert Hess, Elisabeth Wilson, Mary Wilson, Christina Barrus Adams (Wesley), Daniel Barrus, and Emily Barrus; and two great-grandchildren, Owen Adams and Emma Claire Adams. Don had a rich relationship with each one, living out the belief that God made each one of us unique, beloved, and precious. Don was ordained an Episcopal deacon in 1952 and a priest six months later. He started his ministry at St. John’s in Waterbury, CT. From there, the young family moved to St. David’s, a small mission church in Lakeland, FL that grew to have 350 members and a new day school. After serving for a year as the Director of Religious Education at Holy Trinity, a large church in West Palm Beach, FL, Don was called to be the rector at this parish, which had 1200 members. He assisted in establishing two new congregations—St. Mark’s and St. Christopher’s—and was also appointed Dean of the Palm Beach Deanery. Amidst the political and social unrest of the 1960s, Don felt led to campus ministry at Florida Atlantic University as a way to assist young people during those difficult times involving integration and the Vietnam War. He also taught Biblical Theology at St. Andrew’s School and assisted at St. Gregory’s Church in Boca Raton, FL. Don spent several years as the rector at St. John’s Church in Hollywood, FL before moving to St. Andrew’s Church in Jacksonville, his final full-time parish. Don retired in 1985 to spend quality time with his critically ill youngest son. After retirement, he continued his ministry part-time at Church of Our Savior in Mandarin, FL and at Christ Episcopal Church, Vicar’s Landing Retirement Center, and Serenata Beach Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Don served in many leadership capacities throughout his career. His dedication to service in the broader community was demonstrated by his work with the Children’s Home Society, the Human Relations Committee to Improve Police-Citizen Relationships, the Ministerial Fellowship, and several others. He was innovative and creative, studying cutting-edge topics such as Synergistic Problem Solving and Organizational Development and applying this knowledge to help communities carry out their goals and grow in faith, peace, and love. His faith in God coupled with love for his wife, children, and extended family was the cornerstone of his life. His legacy continues in this world through his family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Glenmoor Scholarship Fund, 235 Towerview Dr., St. Augustine, FL 32092, or to St. Francis in-the-Field Episcopal Church, 895 Palm Valley Rd., Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081, or to Episcopal Relief and Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116 – 7058. St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.